Combined desk and copy-holder



1N@ Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

B. P. STUART 8a F. W. WILLSGN.

CUMBINBD DESK AND GOPY HOLDER.

N0. 511,031. Patented D60. 19, 1893.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 B. E'. STUART 8v F. W. WILLSON. COMBINEDDESK AND GoPY EoLEEE.

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UNITED STATES PATENT FEicE.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN STUART, OF BOSQUEVILLE, AND FREDERICK l/VIL- LIAMVVILLSON, OF VACO, TEXAS.

COMBiNED DESK AND COPY-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 511,031, dated December19, 1898.

Application tiled April 25, 1893. Serial lim/71,827. (No modehl To @ZZwhom it may concern:

Be it known that we, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN STUART, residing at Bosqueville,and FRED- ERICK WILLIAM WILLsoN, residing at Waco, county of McLennan,State of Texas, citizens of the United States, have invented a new anduseful Combined Desk and Copy-Holder, of which the following isaspecication.

Our invention has for its object the provision of a combined desk andcopy-holder, especially adapted for use by stenographers, amanuenses,dmc.; to so constructthe same as to form a convenient desk forsupporting a continuous roll of paper, for retaining the same inposition to be written upon; to provide for a feed of the paper as thesame is consumed, for a tearing oft of the saine after such consumptionand after a transcribing of the notes thereon, and for a convenientstoring of the paper, and finally to adapt the device to be raised andsupported in an inclined position convenient to the transoriher.

With these and other objects in view the inventionconsistsincertainfeaturesofconstruction hereinafter specified and particularlypointed outI in the claims.

Referring to the drawingsz--Figure 1 is a perspective view of a combineddesk and copy-holder, the same being constructed in accordance with ourinvention and shown in position for use by an arnenuensis. Fig. 2 is areverse perspective, the device being in position to serve as acopy-holder. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation. Fig. et is a longitudinalsectional view. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through theroll-casing. Fig.' 6 is a transverse sectional view below theroll-casllgv Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

In constructing the device we employ an oblong hoard or base l, the samebeing of suitable dimensions, and channel the back of the base betweenits edges, making a shallow longitudinally-disposed depression 2estending from end vto end thereof. The opposite longitudinal sides ofthe base have secured thereupon by means of tacks or screws 3, L- shapedsheet-metal strips 4, whose upper edges overlap the upper side of thebase and are raised a slight distance from the surface thereof, wherebythere may be slid thereunder and over the surface ot' the base asuitableyielding covering or pad 5, preferably of paper, the same producing asmooth surface upon which the web of paper upon which the notes aretaken is supported. The

upper ends of the metal strips li project' beyond the ends of the basel, and are bent over metal bearing posts or studs 6, between each pairot' which there is located a pair of parallel ribs 7 each carrying aloose sleeve or roller 8, slightly spaced apart to permit of the passagetherethrough of the paper. Secured to the opposite side strips 4L at theupper end of the device is a dat transverse sheet metal strip 9, thesame having its ends only secured to the side strips and thereforeadapted to permit of the passage thereunder of the paper. A spring-wirebail 10 has its ends secured to the ends of the strip 9, the said baillying flatly upon the writing surface 5, and serving to retain the samein position. A line-indicating strip 11 of sheet metal has its endsinserted under the overlapping edges of the strips 4, and may be slid upand down over the Writing surface 5, and thus employed for indicating tothe eye the lines ot' writing when the' device is employed as acopyholder during atranscribing of the notes.

In a pair of transversely opposite bearings l2 secured to the under sideof the base l at each side of the channel 2,there is loosely journals-dthe upper transverse end bar 13 of a wire-frame, which frame, inaddition to the end bar, consists of an opposite transverse end-bar leat the lower end of the frame, and a series of connecting longitudinalbars l5. The lower end-bar 14 has its extremities resting inhalf-notches 16 with which the base is provided,and a spring-wire 17engages into a notch 1S formed in the extremity of said lower end-bar,whereby the frame may be locked against the under side of the base, orunlocked and permitted to swing down to forni a standard for supportingthe base in an inclined position.

Hinged as at 19 to the under side of the base beyond the standard justdescribed is IOO the rear or upper edge of a U-shaped hood 20, the samebeing designed to receive and support a roll of paper. The outer side ofthe hood is provided with a longitudinal rib 21 which is designed to beengaged by a pair of spring-clips 22 secured to the under side of thebase in transverse alignment with each other, and thus be locked in aclosed position. A spring bail 23 extends from the free edge of thehood, and a linger-lug 25 is secured to the exterior of the hood. Thehood is bored at its opposite ends, and through one of the same extendsa bearing-pin 27, which is formed at the free end of a convolute spring28 secured upon the exterior of the hood or y casing. A shaft 29occupies the opposite end of the casing, is provided at its opposite endwith a crank 30, and at its inner end with a triangular socket 31.

32 designates a roll or web of paper, which is wound upon a triangularshaft 33. One end of the shaft is pressed against the bearing-pin whichyields by reason of the pressure and permits the remaining end of theshaft to be inserted into the triangularsocket. The web it will beobserved is now journaled within the casing. The leading end of the webpasses/down under the swinging standard to the lower end of the device,outwardly between the rolls at said lower end, then passes under theupper overlapping edges of the side strips, under the transverse strip9, and backward between the upper pair of rolls. At any time this may besevered by being drawn against or across a serrated knife 35, which issecured to the upper standards beyond the uppermost roll.

When the device is employed simply as a desk, the paper as consumed maybe drawn from the roll, yand if desired severed into convenient sheets,but we prefer to continue the use of the paper in a single web untilafter the work has been accomplished, and then rewind the paper upon theroll. The swinging standard is then liberated so as to form the supportfor the device, and the leading end of the web may be drawn out a shortdistance, the line-indicator adjusted, and after transcribing thatportion of the notes that lies between the leading end and the lower'end of the base, the web may again be drawn out, the line-spacer readjusted, and so on, the web being advanced after the line-spacer hastraveled frorn'the upper to the lower end of the holder.

From the foregoing description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be seen that we have provided avery simple andconvenient combined desk and copyholder for use by stenograpliers andothers, and that the work is done on a continuous web, thus avoiding thenecessity of the frequent turning of leaves, as is the case when takenupon note-books or separate sheets of paper.

Various changes in the details of our invention will readily suggestthemselves, and We therefore do not limit the invention to the precisedetails that we have shown and described.

It will be observed that the hood 20 serves to support the copy-'holderat an inclination when arranged as shown in Fig. 1, and when it isdesired to give a greater inclination to' the base, the frame 15 isbrought into use.

Having described our invention, what we claim is l. The combination withthe base, the opposite overlapping strips, the upper portions of whichform guides, the interposed Writingsurface, the transverse strip at theupper end of the base and secured at its ends to the guides and aspring-bail connected to the strip and resting on the writing surface ofthe upper and lower rolls, and supportsfor thesame, at the ends of thebase, substantially as specified.

2. The combination with the oblong base, the paper-guides at the sidesthereof, of the U-shaped casing hinged at one edge to the under side ofthe base and having the transverse rib at its free edge, and thespringcatches arranged on the base for engaging the rib, substantiallyas specified.

3. The combination with the voblong base, the paper-guides, andpaper-support, of the casing arranged over the support, and a springbailextending from the edge of Athe casing and bearing on the base in thepath of the paper, substantially as specilied.

4E. The combination with the oblong base, of the roll-receiving casinghinged to the under side of the base, means for locking the same,perforations in the opposite ends of the casing, a shaft in one of theperforations, a crank at the outer end of the shaft, a socket at theinner end thereof, and a yielding bearing-pin at the opposite end of thecasing, substantially as specified.

5. The base l having on each side ythe L- shaped sheet metal stri ps 4,one edge of which overlaps the upper side of the base and is raised aslight distance from the surface thereof, and a yielding covering or pad5 slid under the strips and removable therefrom and supported on thebase, substantially as described.

IOO

IIO

G.- The base 1 having on each side the sheet be slid along the pad andheld solely by the frictional engagement of its ends with the strips,substantially as described.

7. In a combined desk and copy holder, the base provided with a paperroll receiving hood on the under side serving also as a supas our own wehave hereto axed oui signaporb for the device to hold it; in an inclinedtures-in the presence of two witnesses. position, and a frame hinged tothe under side Y BENJAMIN FRANKLIN STUART.

of the base below the hood. and supporting FREDERICK WILLIAM WILLSON. 5the base at a. still greater inclination, as set Witnesses:

`forth. W. G. ALLEN,

In testimony that we claim the foregoing R. A. BURLESON.

